Direct experimental observation of periodic intensity modulation along a straight hollow-core optical waveguide

We report the direct observation of periodic intensity modulation of a laser pulse propagating in a hollow-core waveguide. A series of equally spaced plasma sparks along the gas-filled capillary is produced. This effect can be explained by the beating of different fiber modes, which are excited by controlling the size of the focal spot at the capillary entrance. As compared with an artificial modulated waveguide structure, our presented approach represents an easier and more flexible quasi-phase-matching scheme for nonlinear-optical frequency conversion. (C) 2007 Optical Society of America.